CONWAY â Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Hampshire House of Representatives is set to open its 2021 session in a parking lot at the University of New Hampshire on Wednesday at 10 a.m.
While many of the 400 House members plan to meet in a drive-in sort of format, several have shared concerns about meeting during the coronavirus pandemic and at least one representative from Carroll County will not be in attendance.
Rep. Tom Buco (D-Conway), the countyâs longest-serving Democrat, said Tuesday he wonât be making the trek to Durham to begin his eighth term.
âI will not be attending the opening session due to health concerns,â Buco said by phone. âAttendance is going to require me to drive two hours in each direction, to begin with. That requires me to use high-risk public restrooms on the road. And the same thing when I get to the location. I mean sitting in the car for four hours in the session, thatâs going to require me to use the high-risk por
CONWAY â If you thought the drive-in was a thing of the past, the New Hampshire House of Representatives has news for you â it isnât. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the House will open its 2021 session in a parking lot at the University of New Hampshire on Jan. 6.
The move is not sitting well with many representatives, primarily Democrats, who believe itâs not safe for 400 members to gather at this time and would prefer the meetings take place remotely over the internet via such mediums as Zoom.
âItâs so crazy,â said Rep. Mark McConkey (R-Freedom) by phone on Tuesday. âUnfortunately, there is nothing in the rules yet that allows us to meet electronically. We will get together on Jan. 6, organize (elect a new speaker of the House), and then form the rules so we can meet electronically. Weâll probably communicate over radio signals. It sure is a strange time.â